Chandragupta Maurya (321-293 BC)

First Published: June 1, 2009 | Last Updated:November 22, 2013

1. He was the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty. With the help of Chanakya, he overthrew the Nanda Dynasty (Dhanananda was the last ruler of Nanda Dynasty). His vast empire included Bihar, Bengal, Deccan (except modern Kerala, Tamilnadu and parts of North east India) , Eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan and area west of Indus river.

In this way he was the first emperor who tried to unify Indiapolitically.He is also considered as first genuine emperor ofIndia.

2. When Alexander died in Babylon, soon after in 323 BC, his empire fragmented, and local kings declared their independence, leaving several smaller satraps in a disunited state.3. Chandragupta Maurya deposed Dhannanda with the help of Chanakya. The Greek generals Eudemus, and Peithon, ruled until around 316 BC, when Chandragupta Maurya (with the help of Chanakya, who was now his advisor) surprised and defeated the Macedonians and consolidated the region under the control of his new seat of power in Magadha.4. Chanakya encouraged Chandragupta Maurya and his army to take over the throne of Magadha. Using his intelligence network, Chandragupta gathered many young men from across Magadha and other provinces, men upset over the corrupt and oppressive rule of king Dhana, plus resources necessary for his army to fight a long series of battles. These men included the former general of Taxila, other accomplished students of Chanakya, the representative of King Porus of Kakayee, his son Malayketu, and the rulers of small states.

5. According to the Jaina literatures, Chandragupta Maurya in his last days converted into jainism by Bhadrabahu and renounced his throne in favour of Bindusar , his son.

6. ‘Mura’ was the name of mother of Chandragupta Maurya. Some historians say that Chandragupta was an illegitimate child of the Nanda Dynasty of Magadha in eastern India, born to a Nanda prince and a maid named “Mura”,.

7. Some other historians and literary texts say that Chandragupta may have been raised by peacock-tamers which earned him the Maurya epithet.

8. There are other literary traditions according to which Chandragupta belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya clan of a little ancient republic of Pippalivana located between Rummindei in the Nepali Terai and Kasia in the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.